Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion dev on “unfortunate and ugly impact” of 3DS piracy fears

Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion developer DreamRift has responded to discussion in the industry regarding 3DS piracy rates. It comes as Mutant Mudds developer Renegade Kid voiced an ultimatum it would abandon 3DS development if piracy rates hit the same level seen on Nintendo DS. DreamRift has cautioned the “unfortunate and ugly impact” of 3DS piracy fears.

Speaking with Gamasutra, DreamRift co-founder Peter Ong expressed fears that publishers who keep their distance from the 3DS format, and are concerned with the theoretical impact of piracy on the system will be reluctant to try new ideas and innovate on the platform, settling for quick-fire licensed titles and smaller, low-risk projects instead.

Said Ong, “The publishers’ fear was that, in a climate where piracy is commonplace, original games and new mechanics are far less likely to be successful than games based on previously successful mechanics, established licenses, sequels, and sports.

“There’s a perception that the parents/grandparents/non-enthusiast/mainstream/etc. are less likely to go about pirating games. Now, I want to make this point loud and clear: Regardless of whether it’s true that enthusiast/hardcore gamers are more likely to pirate than mainstream gamers, the fact that publishers believe it to be true has a very real, unfortunate and ugly impact on games.”

“I am definitely taking notice,” he concluded, “because the day that I have no option but to make a sports game is the day that I must look for a new profession.”

What do you make of the above? Is there a real danger of new IP and ideas thinning out on 3DS even moreso if piracy threatens the platform?